New Research Shows Receding Glaciers in Alaska and Northern Hemisphere Creating New Coastline
A recent study led by Jan Kavan of the University of South Bohemia in Czechia, with co-authors including Louise Farquharson from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, has provided new insights into the impact of receding glaciers on coastal geomorphology in the Arctic.
Published in Nature Climate Change, the research found that from 2000 to 2020, 1,530 miles of new coastline have been exposed due to glacial retreat. The vast majority of this new coastline is located in Greenland, with significant portions also found in northern Canada, Russia, Svalbard, Alaska, southern Canada, and Iceland.
The study highlighted the potential hazards associated with newly exposed coastline, including slope destabilization, landslides, rockfalls, and tsunami waves. The researchers also found that the formation of permafrost in these newly exposed areas is poorly understood but plays a critical role in shaping coastal landforms and erodibility.
Furthermore, the researchers discovered that the most significant retreat and coastline formation occurred from the collapse of ice shelves or floating portions of marine-terminating glaciers. The ratio of new coastline to glacier retreat area was found to be closely linked to local topography.
Overall, the study emphasized the importance of understanding the behavior of Arctic glaciers in the context of global climate change. While the impact of the new coastline may be limited to a few communities, it holds significant implications for predicting future climate developments and preparing for the consequences of climate change on a global scale.
Source
Photo credit www.gi.alaska.edu
